​It seems like every time you turn around, something matters.
I jumped on the “matter” bandwagon last week with #wisdommatters.
I am going to ride the matter band wagon again today. This blog is written specifically for my fellow Christians.
Convictions Matter.
A conviction is something of which I am convinced. Webster defines conviction as “a strong persuasion or belief, the state of being convinced, certain.”
In our scripture for this week Paul, a Christian serving God in a pagan, heathen, anti-Christian world, was personally persuaded, certain, absolutely convinced, that Jesus Christ was the answer to life.
“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” II Timothy 1:12
Under daily pressure to conform to a secular culture, Paul suffered for Christ and was not ashamed. Why? Because he was convinced (conviction matters) that the Lord would guard, keep safe his life which Paul had entrusted to His Lord and Savior.
Take note of the words of commitment Paul uses: “not ashamed”, “know”, “believed”, “convinced” and “entrusted”. No compromise of convictions for Paul!
The gospel trailblazer of the New Testament church was fully convinced that Jesus was the truth, the only truth. Paul was persuaded that the one and only Son of the Living God who died on a cross and rose again to save us from our sins can be trusted to keep His Word to His followers up to the very last day.
Convictions Matter.
As a devoted, sincere, certainly imperfect, wholehearted follower of Jesus Christ, I am deeply concerned and alarmed that many professing Christians, unlike Paul, are compromising biblical convictions because of cultural pressure to erase Judeo-Christian values and traditions from the fabric of our nation.
It is incredible to me and troubles my heart greatly that some Christians are now declaring acceptable values, beliefs and behaviors that are unacceptable in the Bible, the Word of God.
Is it wise for you and me to compromise what Jesus Christ shed His precious blood for?
Thoughts About convictions

• Everyone is convinced about something. Someone said the trouble with a half-truth is that you can get ahold of the wrong half!
• Convictions are the building blocks of character and conduct. What you and I believe defines who we are and influences how we behave.
• A person without convictions is a man or woman without a life compass. Convictions are an anchor for our souls. People without Christian convictions are morally adrift on the sea of life.
• Our morally imploding culture pressures Christians to compromise their convictions to conform to an anti-Christian worldview.
• You and I choose convictions that are biblically correct or culturally, politically correct.
• Convictions drive commitment. What convictions are you committed to? What convictions motivate you to be who you are and do what you do?
• Core convictions based on God’s Word are non-negotiable. You, I nor anyone else gets to change the Word of the Living God. We are cursed if we attempt to detract or add to the truth found in the Bible (Revelation 22:18-19). God blesses those who believe in the Bible and stand up with unwavering faith to witness for Jesus Christ.

Convictions matter.
I ask myself how does a Christian get to a place where man’s opinion, political polls, agenda pushing pundits, popular personalities and celebrities overrule personal convictions?
I am scratching my head and asking the Holy Spirit to console the grief in my heart as to why so many of my professed brothers and sisters in Christ are compromising convictions, selling out to secular society. And for what? Man’s approval? Satan’s lies?
If you are a professing Christian who compromises biblical convictions, I believe you are crucifying Christ again.
I know what my core Christian convictions are. I have held them for almost fifty years and have not altered, adjusted or abandoned them. I never will. Like Paul, I am not ashamed of Jesus and my Christian faith. I will stand boldly for truth and righteousness no matter what cultural pressure tries to do to get me to compromise what I believe. I know the Lord is taking care of business on my behalf. I am thankful for His faithfulness to me every single day of my life.
What do you believe? What are your core convictions? Why do you believe what you believe? Are you willing to take a stand for what you believe? Are you willing to defend your faith and values? At any price? Or have you compromised convictions that you say you believe in? Are you waffling with God’s holy Word? Sitting on the fence regarding your faith?
A word from me regarding election of leaders in America.
I love my country. Leadership will dictate our future. Take time and make the effort to check out the convictions of candidates. What about their personal convictions, character and conduct? Does their belief and behavior line up with your personal core convictions based on the Bible? Listen very carefully to their words. More importantly, research their lives and track records. Why would you even consider voting for someone to lead our nation whose convictions are contrary to Christian truth and principles?
Please think about it. If believers in Christ continue to compromise convictions, soon the America you and I have live in will be unrecognizable. Are you sure you want your children and grandchildren to live in a morally rudderless culture that openly rejects Jesus Christ and Christian values, purposely brainwashing the impressionable minds of your loved ones with anti-Christian propaganda?
Never, ever compromise your faith.
“And so having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place, that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He should be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22-23
A Word For Your Week: Choose uncompromising convictions for the cause of Christ.

​Do you find yourself scratching your head wondering if there is any wisdom in our world today?
I do daily.
You and I are unceasingly inundated and relentlessly bombarded with ideas, concepts, opinions, views, theories, algorithms and whatever crazy idea finds its way to the Internet and is deemed trending! Some things people propose are preposterous, off the wall, silly, outrageous, senseless, utterly ridiculous and downright dumb!
A wisdom-less world makes me uncomfortable.
Wisdom comes from God. Take God out of life and wisdom flies out the window. A world devoid of God’s wisdom is a scary, insecure, unstable, extremely dangerous place. Remove God’s wisdom, wise men and women from the world, and self-destruction is inevitable.
I counsel with hurting, broken people who are seeking God’s healing, restoration and renewal. I never ceased to be amazed at how unwise some people can be. Lack of wisdom inevitably leads to decisions and behaviors that hurt rather than heal. Divide rather than unite. It baffles me that even professing Christians cannot figure out what to do God’s way, which is the wise way.
Wisdom is looking at life and doing life God’s way. Wisdom is found in God’s Word, the Holy Bible
Solomon, the son of King David of Israel, during his lifetime was the wisest and wealthiest man on earth. He penned a Holy Spirit inspired letter (31 chapters in the book of Proverbs) to his son. This wise father exhorted his son in Proverbs 1:2-3 “To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding. To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity.”
In Proverbs 9:10 this godly Dad writes “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” In Proverbs 4:7 it is written “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom and with all your getting get understanding.
Wisdom. Instruction. Discernment. Understanding. Wise behavior. Righteousness. Justice. Equity. What a rich legacy/inheritance Solomon desired to leave with his son.
If “wisdom is the principal thing,” which it is, where does is come from, what does it look like and how can you and I receive it?
First, wisdom comes from God. HE IS WISDOM. If you want to know what is wise, get to know God. You can get to know Him by studying Genesis to Revelation, meditating on scripture, praying over God’s Word and obeying His truth and wisdom. Do you know Him?
Secondly, wisdom comes from God in heaven. The Holy Spirit wrote it down in the pages of the Bible. James calls it “wisdom from above.” It is available to you, me and everyone who seeks it.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” James 3:17.
Imagine what our world would look like if people everywhere lived their lives according to the above characteristics of God’s wisdom? Heaven on earth? Sort of!
 Thirdly, God’s wisdom is given to all who ask for it.
“But if any of you lack wisdom, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM.” James 1:5
Oh my, Steve Roll loves this invitation and promise. How do I receive God’s wisdom? Simply ask with faith. Then receive the Lord’s generous, no respecter of persons wisdom from above!
Ask and it will be given. Can it be that simple? Yes, it is because God says so! I am signing up for that. How about you?
Wisdom makes one wise and understanding what life is about. The older I get, the more and more I desire to live my life that way every day God gives to me.
Just a thought: Why would anyone choose to be unwise when they can walk by faith with the wisdom of God?
My father-in-law, who is now in heaven, had a bumper sticker plastered on the back of his 1960 Ford that read “Wise Men Still Seek Him”. Enough said.
Are you a wise man or woman faithfully seeking the Lord’s wisdom in your daily life? The world you and I live in desperately needs us Christians to be wise.
“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him now show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” James 3:13
A Word For Your Week: Be wise. Seek God’s wisdom. Receive it. Walk in it every day.

​How can you and I go somewhere when we do not know where we are going?
 
Intriguing question.
 
In the Bible we have the true story of Abraham who went out not knowing where he was going.
 
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”       Hebrews 11:8
 
Abraham is listed in the Who’s Who Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11. The writer of Hebrews says of Abraham “and he went out, not knowing where he was going?” 
 
Did you catch what was just said? When God told Abraham to go, he got up and went. Without question or hesitation, Abraham left family, friends, familiarity, wealth, support and relationships to go somewhere he had never been. Upon departure, he had no earthly idea where that destination might be! His family must have thought he had lost a few of his marbles!
 
Marbles all accounted for, Abraham stepped out in faith and obedience to go even though God did not make it clear where he was going. No address. No map. No GPS. No Siri. No mile markers. No definitive destination. Abraham packed up his stuff and set out for the Promised Land when God said go.
 
Abraham went. That blows me away! For a directionally challenged guy like me (who my wife has quipped Steve could get lost on his own driveway) going out without knowing where to go borders on frightening, if not a little crazy!
 
A close friend of mine commented that he likes to step out in faith when he has every step planned out. We chuckled together, as so many of us approach our Christian journey that way.
 
We believe we have faith when we know where we are going. But we struggle with faith when we do not know where we are going.
 
Abraham did not know where he was going, but God did.
 
God knew exactly where Abraham’s destination was located. It was a fantastic destination that dreamers dream of. A land of promise called the Promised Land. Abraham would receive his inheritance there.
 
Think about this for a moment. Wouldn’t we be in real trouble if we went out, not knowing where we were going, and God had no idea what He was doing or where He was leading us either? That is trouble with a capital T.
 
But the good news is this: God does know and we need to know that He knows.
 
During life adjustments, transition times, course changes, or new beginnings it is comforting to know that God knows where He is taking us. Uncertain times and unknown destinations test our faith because they seldom paint a clear picture of the next phase, chapter, stop or destination.
 
I have been in situations like Abraham’s which tested my faith. I stepped out when the Holy Spirit directed me to when I had little information about next steps. Of course, the Lord always came through. Oftentimes in nothing short of miraculous ways. But I must admit in the initial stages of going without knowing I questioned my sanity a time or two!
 
Abraham’s response is exemplary, inspiring and challenging. Accepting God’s call on his life, he responded with faith and obedience. No prideful presumption or flaky faith for Abraham. He placed his faith firmly in the promises of a God whose word could be trusted. (Read Genesis 12-22).
 
God’s promises were good enough for Abraham to go ahead and go.
 
Abraham discovered that God leads and guides as we go. Guidance is in the going. Departure preceeds directions. Location appears after looking to the Lord.
 
Unknown destinations can be unsettling until we remember that knowing is God’s business. Going is our business. In the going will come knowing. As we go, God will show us what we need to know (see Jeremiah 33:3).
           
Going out by faith and not knowing where we are going forces us to depend on God.
 
A word of caution: Immature Christians often get all fired-up, believing they should take a big leap of faith by going when God did not call them to go. Psalm 37:23 states our steps (not leaps!) are ordered by the Lord. Presumption and assumption on our part always leads to crash, burn, heartache, disillusionment and discouragement.  
 
When God has called you and you want to go, but do not know where you are going, take these steps of faith.
 
            1. Decide to trust God for the destination.
            2. Commit yourself to the Holy Spirit’s leading every step of the way.
            3. Obey the specific directions God gives you for each day.
            4. Stir up your faith to go forward when the path is unclear.
            5. Keep going when you know you should keep going.
            6. Be ready to receive your inheritance along the way.
            7. Rejoice in the journey as well as the destination!
 
You and I will never get to where God wants us to go if we think we must have all our ducks in a row. If we do not go, we will never know where we could have gone!
 
“And He was saying, “The Kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts up and grows—how, he himself does not know.”                                                                           Mark 4:26-27
 
A Word For Your Week: When God says go, go, even if you do not know exactly where to go.
 

​What is unknown can be extremely frustrating for those of us who want to know.
I heard a hearty amen from my readers!
Fact: Much of life is unknown.
I wish at times I could change that annoying, perplexing fact. But I cannot. Neither can you. Nobody can. Not possible. Unknown is built into the fabric of the human experience. Unknown is part of creation. Our Creator is familiar with the unknown. Now, do not go blame-shifting your current circumstances on the Lord. You may have created some unknown for yourself because of your behavior. Just saying!
When unknown crosses their path, people react in diverse ways.
Panic buttons are pushed by some. Worry warts pop up on others. Anxiety attacks assault and paralyze emotions. Negative attitudes overshadow positive thinking. “What if” clouds minds with questions and doubt. Fear of the future takes center stage.
Knee jerk reactions to the unknown cause us to lose perspective. Rash, unwise decisions often lead to irrational behavior. Negative reactions to unknown situations can make other people feel uncomfortable around us.
Many people in our culture today are fearful of the unknown. A spirit of paranoia runs deep in many souls who choose not to look to God to meet their needs. During their self-imposed panic tantrums they make some downright dumb decisions! Fear-mongers love to take advantage of and manipulate gullible folks by selling them a bill of goods that the unknown is our doom.
Unknown must be faced with faith, not fear. Faith in God who is not afraid of the unknown.
I have wrestled with ”unknown” numerous times throughout my lifetime. In the past I have reacted with negative thinking and anxiety. God’s lesson for me: “Steve, as a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian, have you forgotten that I was there with you in the land of unknown every single time? When you looked to Me with simple trust, I led you through unknown to known. I will do it again when unknown confronts you.”
Thank you Father for reminding me of Your faithfulness. I am doing my best with the Holy Spirit’s help to manage unknown much better than I used to.
What is your typical “go-to” response to the unknown? How would you like to change your responses to the unknown?
Bottom line: Faith is tested when unknown comes calling.
I have good news for you and me: With God’s help, we can understand unknown from His perspective and order our lives accordingly.
I encourage you to read and meditate on Psalm 46. Verses 1 and 10-11 are bookends for the other eight which describe potential, serious life-threatening scenarios that reek of the unknown.
The Psalmist assures us that when all hell breaks loose, we need not fear. The unknown need not frighten us. Why? Because God is our help, our refuge, our strength and our stronghold in trouble.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Verse 1).
“Be still, cease striving, know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” (Verses 10-11).
God is omniscient, all knowing. Gods loves us in the known and unknown times of our lives. He alone knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. There is nothing unknown to Him. He knows what I do not know, sees what I cannot see.
I may not know, but God always knows. Unknown is not unknown to Him.
WOW! Unknown does not stand a chance when God is with us and we choose to stop striving and be still before Him.
Therefore, you and I should focus our faith on Who we know (the Lord) and what we know (His Word). The God of the Bible is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. Period! No exceptions concerning any unknown situation or season you or I may be experiencing.
Just a thought:  If we know everything, including the unknown, why would we need faith?
May we quiet our soul in unknown times. Focus our faith on God who knows. Know with confidence that He is God. He knows how to guide you and me through the unknown.
My friend, surrender the unknown to the One who knows. Trust Him to show you what you need to know, when you need to know it and what to do to pass through unknown to known.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
A Word For Your Week: Unknown is opportunity to know God better and live life successfully.

​Revelation from God comes in many ways.
He reveals truth and wisdom to us through nature, the Bible, Jesus’ teachings, the Holy Spirit, fellow Christians, people, circumstances and friends.
Recently my good friend and faithful prayer partner Jim and I were talking about life. Discussing current situations we were facing in our personal lives. Then he looked at me and stated in a manner of fact manner “everybody has something.”
The Holy Spirit used Jim’s statement to hit me right between my spiritual eyes. Steve Roll you are not the only one with some “stuff” going on. Humble pie time.
Other people have “stuff” going on too!
Years ago I heard a preacher declare “I got problems, you got problems, all God’s children got problems.” Isn’t that the truth!
Your problems, concerns and needs are important to you, but not that important to others. They have their own needs and many of them are far more serious and significant than yours.
So, Steve, stop focusing so much on what you need. What you think and feel others need to know about your needs. Take your eyes off yourself. Focus on others who would benefit from your help and encouragement.
I realize that I am too self-centered at times. Admittedly I want life to be about Steve. I want others to care about me and my stuff. What is going on in my life is what matters most. Or does it?
You and I need to be less self-centered and more other-centered. Not so self-absorbed and self-focused that we neglect to understand what others are dealing with in their lives
 In the Bible, Paul writes to the Galatians “Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6:2-3
Simple. Bear other’s burdens. Sounds like less of Steve, and more of others. Burden bearers show God’s love. They help carry a hurting person’s load. He picture is of a soldier who is wounded and unable to carry his pack. He is assisted by a fellow soldier who carries his pack for him until the wounded man can carry his own pack once again.
To bear we must care. To care we must share. Caring, bearing and sharing means we have to be there for others regardless of our needs.
I have served in full-time Christian ministry as a pastor for over forty years. I have had the privilege and opportunity to minister to thousands of precious people from every imaginable walk of life. I believe I have poured my heart into many sharing the love of Christ in their time of need. But I wonder. How selfish have I been? I did not set out to be self-centered. Never to be the center of everybody’s universe.
But I am certain that Steve got in the way of Steve, other people and maybe even the Lord when I thought more highly of myself than I should think. Too easy to do. Ouch!
Does Steve’s stuff matter? Of course. But it should never take center stage! Most times personal and private is the best course of action dealing with life issues. Taking our stuff to the Lord and one or two trusted, mature Christians is the way to deal with our “somethings.”
At seventy years young, I am rethinking who I want to be in the last laps of my faith race. I do know I do not want my life to be about Steve. I want my life to be about Christ in and through Steve to reach people for the Kingdom of God. Especially wounded warriors who need someone to come alongside and carry their pack.
Remember no one person, including you, is more important than others. Jesus died for everyone. His unconditional love is the same for all. We all carry life’s pack on our back that becomes heavy at times. Love lightens the load when “something” is weighing us down.
 My friends, hurting people surround us. Every person you pass by or meet has something(s) to deal with. Most Americans are exceptionally good at covering their pain. Many, many people in our culture have no one to share their “something” with. No one who will take the time and initiative to listen to them. Isolation. Depression. Brokenness. Low self-esteem. Guilt, shame and failure haunt people and cause them to keep their guard up.
Look into people’s empty eyes. Watch their halting, uncertain gait. Their facial expressions and posture reveal much about their struggles. Listen closely to their words that reveal their “something.”
Always remember people like you are carrying a load every day. Why not be someone who helps them with their something?
I want to say it again: Everybody has something.
Ask the Lord to make you sensitive to the needs of others. Be a “something” of His love to people who need to know that God and His people genuinely care about them and the burdens they bear.
The Christian life is not about you, me or our somethings. It is about Jesus in and through us to minister to those struggling with their somethings.
“And seeing the multitudes, Jesus felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples” The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38
A Word For Your Week: Somebody going through something needs you to care about them today.